300+ Evaluations Completed
Bilingual – English and Spanish
Available in FL, WA, NV, OR & MO
Available for depositions and court testimony
Forensic Mental Health Evaluations That Answer the Legal Question
A diagnosis rarely settles a case. Courts, juries, and opposing counsel want to understand how a person's history and experiences have affected their mental health, and they want that account to be specific, documented, and fair.
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I write forensic mental health evaluations for civil and criminal cases. My work draws on more than 12 years of clinical work with trauma and 300+ immigration evaluations, reports that judges and government officers read closely. Each report connects the clinical findings to the questions your case needs answered.
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I am bilingual and conduct evaluations in English or Spanish, so Spanish-speaking clients can tell their story in their own words, without an interpreter.
Emotional Distress and Emotional Damages Evaluations
For attorneys representing plaintiffs
An emotional distress evaluation covers the emotional and mental health impact of the incident at issue. The evaluation examines current symptoms, how the person functioned before and after the event, other stressors and prior history relevant to causation, and future treatment needs. The report connects the clinical findings to the questions your case needs answered.
What is Included in an Emotional Distress Evaluation?
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​Clinical interviews
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Standardized assessment measures
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Records review
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Collateral information when appropriate
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A written report addressed to you
Cases I Evaluate
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Personal injury
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Workplace discrimination
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Harassment
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Civil rights
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Wrongful termination
Criminal Mitigation Evaluations
For defense attorneys preparing for sentencing or plea negotiations.
I document the defendant's trauma history, mental health, cultural background, and life circumstances. This is the context a judge needs to see the whole person. I can coordinate with your mitigation specialist and investigator so the evaluation fits the rest of the mitigation work.
Spanish-speaking and Immigrant Defendants
I am bilingual and an immigrant myself. I can evaluate Spanish-speaking and immigrant defendants directly, without an interpreter, so details aren't lost in translation, and cultural background and family history are documented accurately.
What is Included in a Mitigation Evaluation
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​Clinical interviews
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Standardized assessment measures
Review of records and discovery
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Collateral information when appropriate
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A written report addressed to you
What to Expect When You Refer a Case
1.
Consultation
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A brief call with you, the referring attorney, to define the questions the evaluation must answer.
2.
Retainer and records
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You sign an agreement and pay a retainer. Then you send the relevant records through secure file transfer.
3.
Evaluation
I conduct the interviews and testing by telehealth or in person in Winter Park, FL.
4.
Report
You receive a written report addressed to you, delivered as a PDF.
5.
Testimony
I am available for depositions and court testimony if needed.
How I Approach Every Forensic Evaluation
You need a report that holds up under scrutiny. These are the standards I follow.
✓ Objective and independent. My role is to give a clinically supported opinion, not to advocate for an outcome.
✓ More than one source. Findings come from interviews, standardized measures, records, and collateral information when appropriate, so no conclusion rests on a single source.
✓ Standardized measures: PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5, ACE, ITQ, DES
✓ Trauma-informed and culturally attuned. Interviews are paced with care, and I document cultural background as part of the clinical picture.
✓ Evaluation only. I do not evaluate people I see in therapy.
Fees & Timing
Fees are quoted per case, based on the scope of records and the questions involved. A retainer is required before the evaluation begins. Testimony and deposition time are billed separately.
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Timelines depend on the volume of records and your deadlines. Share the dates that matter on the first call, and I will tell you what is realistic.
Also available:
Immigration Evaluations for Your Clients
I also complete immigration evaluations for VAWA, asylum, I-601 and I-601A hardship waiver, U Visa, and T Visa cases, with a standard turnaround of 3 to 8 business days and a 24-hour expedited option.